Are the Rockets really keeping Jalen Green as a core piece?

[chuck_wagon44]

Asking very seriously and not trying to bash the Rockets as I am indeed a Spurs fan.

But honestly speaking, this guy seems very undeveloped as a player 3-4 years into his nba career. I get it he's young but he doesn't know the basic fundamentals in terms of when to score or pass or slash or shoot, he just seems to be going off his overrated athleticism.

It's evidently clear that the Rockets are a nice surprise team and a lot of people like to watch them on NBA League Pass with emerging coach and decent pieces moving forward CENTERED around Sengun.

However, Jalen Green is up for an extension soon and its clear the Rockets missed big with this pick. Not a bust, but he's clearly not a player to keep on a winning team. At least, he's like a poor man's Gilbert Arenas.

Also, we know Houston has a very cheap owner who is probably not going to want to pay for this player moving forward unless his basketball operation people tell him otherwise and also his coach.

I'd imagine Udoka is probably frustrated of his lack of skills as well.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

I mean he's more like a homeless Gilbert Arenas or something.

[CptCrunch]

Quite an agenda post labeling Green as a 4th year player.

[K_chile22]

If he ends up working out that's great but he's no longer a focus imo. Sengun-Jabari-Tari are all hits, just need at least one perimeter talent among Green/Whitmore/Amen to hit and you're set with your young core.


Also Tillman is not cheap anymore, he spent all his money on the team and was cheap by necessity because he was broke but profited in a way that I don't even understand over the pandemic and is richer than ever. Bought the team a new jumbo jet, new practice facility and is renovating Toyota Center out of his own pocket

[Shock Defeat]

Umm the jury is still out on Jalen, they haven't committed to him on anything yet.

[EmpireFalls]

He's like a poor man's Zach LaVine.

Him and Kuminga are really bad fundamentally and despite having real talent, everything that they do well seems like an accident.

GLI is a bust for player development methinks.

[PlatinumState]

If he ends up working out that's great but he's no longer a focus imo. Sengun-Jabari-Tari are all hits, just need at least one perimeter talent among Green/Whitmore/Amen to hit and you're set with your young core.


Also Tillman is not cheap anymore, he spent all his money on the team and was cheap by necessity because he was broke but profited in a way that I don't even understand over the pandemic and is richer than ever. Bought the team a new jumbo jet, new practice facility and is renovating Toyota Center out of his own pocket

Is Jabari really considered a hit?

[MrGoat]

If he ends up working out that's great but he's no longer a focus imo. Sengun-Jabari-Tari are all hits, just need at least one perimeter talent among Green/Whitmore/Amen to hit and you're set with your young core.


Also Tillman is not cheap anymore, he spent all his money on the team and was cheap by necessity because he was broke but profited in a way that I don't even understand over the pandemic and is richer than ever. Bought the team a new jumbo jet, new practice facility and is renovating Toyota Center out of his own pocket

Is Jabari really considered a hit?

I was pretty impressed with him last time the Mavs played them. Jabari is a big part of that defense. He's money from mid range as well

[ThatBoyNick]

Is Jabari really considered a hit?

His EFG% this year is up nearly 10%, and TS% is up about 7.5% from last year.

I don't know what people consider a hit, but at just 20 (won't turn 21 until after this season is over) he looks like a competent 2-way role player. 6'10, plays D, hits 3s, has a decent mid-range post-game, and rebounds well at he PF spot.

He's not on offensive superstar watch like Banchero, but he's made a big jump in efficiency this year and is looking very solid. Incremental improvement and adding strength over the years will make him into a great piece for any contender.

[Chuck Everett]

He's like a poor man's Zach LaVine.

Him and Kuminga are really bad fundamentally and despite having real talent, everything that they do well seems like an accident.

GLI is a bust for player development methinks.

You're blaming the G-League Ignite for guys who are in their 3rd NBA season. You agenda people are laughable. How does that make even a little sense?

So after two NBA offseasons, you say they are bad fundamentally. Wouldn't that speak to what they aren't learning within their own organizations?

[Chuck Everett]

Is Jabari really considered a hit?

His EFG% this year is up nearly 10%, and TS% is up about 7.5% from last year.

I don't know what people consider a hit, but at just 20 (won't turn 21 until after this season is over) he looks like a competent 2-way role player. 6'10, plays D, hits 3s, has a decent mid-range post-game, and rebounds well at he PF spot.

He's not on offensive superstar watch like Banchero, but he's made a big jump in efficiency this year and is looking very solid. Incremental improvement and adding strength over the years will make him into a great piece for any contender.

My advice to these guys is to just watch the Rockets play night to night. The offense begins with Sengun-FVV two man game and then everyone plays off of that. The only one truly freelancing or who Udoka allows to break with it is Jalen Green. And when Jalen doesn't have it going, he gets benched whether it's for Eason, Holiday or Tate.

Jabari is going to get more offensive responsibility, but Udoka is prioritizing winning and defense over making sure these young dudes have high counting stats.

[K_chile22]

If he ends up working out that's great but he's no longer a focus imo. Sengun-Jabari-Tari are all hits, just need at least one perimeter talent among Green/Whitmore/Amen to hit and you're set with your young core.


Also Tillman is not cheap anymore, he spent all his money on the team and was cheap by necessity because he was broke but profited in a way that I don't even understand over the pandemic and is richer than ever. Bought the team a new jumbo jet, new practice facility and is renovating Toyota Center out of his own pocket

Is Jabari really considered a hit?

I was maybe the biggest Jabari doubter among Rockets fans laster year and I think he absolutly is a hit now. He's awesome. Good two way starter in an age age 20 season is not common. idk why he was so absolutly awful last year

[Chuck Everett]

If he ends up working out that's great but he's no longer a focus imo. Sengun-Jabari-Tari are all hits, just need at least one perimeter talent among Green/Whitmore/Amen to hit and you're set with your young core.


Also Tillman is not cheap anymore, he spent all his money on the team and was cheap by necessity because he was broke but profited in a way that I don't even understand over the pandemic and is richer than ever. Bought the team a new jumbo jet, new practice facility and is renovating Toyota Center out of his own pocket

Is Jabari really considered a hit?

I was maybe the biggest Jabari doubter among Rockets fans laster year and I think he absolutly is a hit now. He's awesome. Good two way starter in an age age 20 season is not common. idk why he was so absolutly awful last year

Bad coach in Silas (more as in over his head), bad locker room with people like KPJ and he was pressing because he probably thought he was going #1 to Orlando and it messed with his head. He seems to have gotten over that and is now trusting the staff the Rockets have put in place for him to improve.

He has so much potential, but his improvement is visible.

[HotelVitale]

Is Jabari really considered a hit?

His EFG% this year is up nearly 10%, and TS% is up about 7.5% from last year.

I don't know what people consider a hit, but at just 20 (won't turn 21 until after this season is over) he looks like a competent 2-way role player. 6'10, plays D, hits 3s, has a decent mid-range post-game, and rebounds well at he PF spot.

He's not on offensive superstar watch like Banchero, but he's made a big jump in efficiency this year and is looking very solid. Incremental improvement and adding strength over the years will make him into a great piece for any contender.

Not trying to bash him but that seems pretty generous for the word 'hit.' More like 'not a miss' than a hit maybe; jumping from really bad to solid in efficiency, while maintaining pretty low volume, sounds like it's more about him pulling out of a nose dive than ascending into the clouds. (Also him improving his efficiency this year obviously doesn't mean he'll continue to do so.)

That said, feels like y'all Rockets fans would know best if his intangibles are enough to make him feel like a successful pick now.

[jordanwilliams6]

Where does 3-4 years come from? He’s 2 years and 21 games into his NBA career.

The Rockets are now in a situation where they can let Green develop naturally whilst learning how to win by surrounding him with solid vets to take the pressure of being a leading scoring option.

NBA fans are way too impatient with young guys. Superstars might look like superstars very early on in their careers but a lot of other all star types that 5-6 years to start taking their games to new levels.

[ThatBoyNick]

Not trying to bash him but that seems pretty generous for the word 'hit.' More like 'not a miss' than a hit maybe; jumping from really bad to solid in efficiency, while maintaining pretty low volume, sounds like it's more about him pulling out of a nose dive than ascending into the clouds. (Also him improving his efficiency this year obviously doesn't mean he'll continue to do so.)

That said, feels like y'all Rockets fans would know best if his intangibles are enough to make him feel like a successful pick now.

I'm not saying your bashing just updating people on what he's doing this season

He's now above average efficiency at 59 TS% and 57 EFG, and to show his rebounding at the PF spot he's top 5 right now outside of centers among those who qualify according to basketball references advanced stats this season. https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2024_advanced.html

So being 20, being efficient, rebounding well, having a 3-ball at 6'10, and being solid defensively, I'd say he's looking pretty good to most fans.

If hit ='s looks like a future superstar or all-star, then no, but he's looking like he'll be a really good 2-way starter with a winning player mold and that's a hit for me.

[Long2_noD]

It's early, but I think he should eventually settle into a JR Smith type of role.

I see a lot of similarities actually. Both bouncy athletes with a great first step. Fine shooters, but too trigger happy. Not much playmaking to speak of. Defense played only when surrounded by a good system. Most importantly, a lack the polish because they were drafted too early (age-wise for both, pick-wise for Green).

[chuck_wagon44]

I think it's easy to say he's not a starter in the NBA. On his own team, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore (both rookies) are better contributors.

[ForeverTFC]

If he ends up working out that's great but he's no longer a focus imo. Sengun-Jabari-Tari are all hits, just need at least one perimeter talent among Green/Whitmore/Amen to hit and you're set with your young core.


Also Tillman is not cheap anymore, he spent all his money on the team and was cheap by necessity because he was broke but profited in a way that I don't even understand over the pandemic and is richer than ever. Bought the team a new jumbo jet, new practice facility and is renovating Toyota Center out of his own pocket

Is Jabari really considered a hit?

What do you consider a hit? His floor at this point is a solid rotation player with a 10+ year career. Upside can still project him to a fringe all-star guy maybe? That’s pretty good I’d say.

[ItsDanger]

A good GM makes a decision now before extension talks in offsesson. He hasn't improved in 3 seasons. So, there is downside risk in market value now. People who wait for the obvious to be revealed will do nothing.